Labour Party leader Ed Miliband, who faces internal rumblings over his leadership, will today warn that prime minister David Cameron's flirtation with quitting the European Union poses "a real and present danger" to the UK. In one of the most pro-EU speeches by a British leader for some time, Mr Miliband will declare that he "will not play politics" with the Britain's EU membership, or close its borders to calm immigration fears.
“I am not going to say we should close our borders, because I don’t believe we should. I am not going to play politics with our membership of the EU because I don’t believe it would make Britain stronger or more confident,” he will tell the Confederation of British Industry.
Some in Britain advocate an EU exit. Others, such as Mr Cameron “flirt with it, thinking they can do so without consequence and perhaps with advantage to Britain”, the Labour leader will say, adding that “both are equally dangerous”.
“Giving succour to the argument that the real answer is leaving the EU, or contemplating it, simply drags us closer to exit,” he goes on, adding that “nods and winks” to Eurosceptics tell potential investors that the UK is “not open for business”.
“We have seen over the last couple of years that trying to use exit as a threat has simply weakened our influence, not strengthened it. And I will not be part of it. A country making ever-more incoherent demands, ever-more isolated from its partners, means we are on the conveyor belt towards exit with no idea how to get off,” he says.
Mr Cameron’s posturing this month about refusing to pay more into the EU budget is but the latest example of “a betrayal of our national interest”, where the prime minister bangs “the table one and pays up the next”.
Such tactics are “a clear and present danger” to Britain’s future prosperity, he warns, adding that Labour “will build alliances with others, not burn them” and help change EU rules in Britain’s interests.
Mr Miliband, acknowledging that millions of British people believe the economic recovery was not working for them, says they “fear deeply for the future of their kids” and some believe that the fault lies at the doors of immigrants.
However, those who believe that the UK should “close our borders, turn our back on the world, and return to the way things used to be are dead wrong”, no matter how “loud and insistent” they may.
Today’s CBI speech has been scheduled for months, but Mr Miliband’s decision to take such a pro-EU stand in it is an attempt by him to establish his own identity as a leader capable of tough choices.
However, he has endured another dreadful weekend, with a succession of Labour MPs privately telling journalists about their fears for the party’s chances in next year’s general election, with some believing he must quit.
Former home secretary Alan Johnson is the choice of some as a short-term leader. Some leadership hopefuls, such as Andy Burnham, are being told they must move now, if they want the job.
Mr Johnson is not prepared to challenge Mr Miliband, but is prepared to take the job if offered it. However, it is far from clear that he would do much for Labour’s election chances, particularly since he performed poorly during his short period as shadow chancellor.
Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, who said Labour members had "got our party back" when Mr Miliband was elected in 2010, backed him yesterday, saying that those MPs briefing against him were "common in their anonymity and cowardice".
Mr Miliband’s image with voters – that he is “remote, cerebral, weird, if you like – is unfair and wrong”, said Mr Kinnock. The public found him “approachable, convincing and very honest” when they met him.
Despite Mr Miliband’s difficulties, three opinion polls published at the weekend put Labour between one and five points ahead of the Conservatives. However, Labour MPs fear the numbers will tighten as the election campaign opens properly.
